Portland’s director of housing and economic development was issued a summons for assault and placed on paid leave last week, officials said.

Gregory Watson, 54, was accused of assault after a Feb. 20 incident on Congress Street, Portland police confirmed Tuesday. They issued a summons on March 18, as first reported by WGME.

Police department spokesperson Brad Nadeau declined to share further details about the alleged assault. No filings about the case were available at the Cumberland County Courthouse as of Tuesday.

Watson was placed on paid administrative leave the day he was summonsed, city spokesperson Jessica Grondin said in a statement Monday. She declined to provide additional information.

Watson could not be reached for comment Tuesday at a phone number listed for him.

Watson was appointed to the director position in 2023. He is tasked with setting strategy for recruiting and retaining businesses, developing the city’s marketing plan, and managing grants for the city’s housing and community development programs.

Before coming to Portland, he worked as an urban planner in Massachusetts for 25 years, where he managed affordable housing development and finance programs.

Staff Writer Drew Johnson contributed to this story.